Vacuum cleaner with motor and handle pivoted on casing



April 1953 E. P. TURNER ET AL 1 2,633,596

VACUUM CLEANER WITH MOTOR AND HANDLE PIVOTED ON CASING Filed Dec. 11,1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l I N V EN TOR. dyaz W mam awed $612294 StackbagezBX @TTORNEY April 7, 1953 E. P. TURNER ET AL 2,533,595

VACUUM CLEANER WITH MOTOR AND HANDLE PIVOTED 0N CASING Filed Dec. 11,1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I a )-------L i I82 35 9b 2% 505 iToglvzy April7, 1953 P. TURNER ET AL 2,633,596

VACUUM CLEANER WITH MOTOR AND HANDLE PIVOTED 0N CASING Filed Dec. 11,1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR fazyaz 0Z u zmz and ha a294,}Stockbagyezf WITNESS BYWm e/l/fao g ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 7, 1953VACUUM CLEANER WITH MOTOR AND HANDLE PIVOTED ON CASING Edgar P. Turner,Fanwood, and Charles .1. Stockburger, North Plainfield, N. J assignorsto The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J a corporation ofNew Jersey Application December 11, 1948, Serial No. 64,736 4 Claims.(01. 15-323) This invention relates to vacuum cleaners and it has as itsprimary object to provide an improved frame construction that can easilybe manufactured and conveniently assembled.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved casingconstruction that provides easy access to the various moving parts ofthe vacuum cleaner mechanism, whereby they can easily be cleaned,adjusted or repaired.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means formounting a cord take-up reel and a motor in the handle of a vacuumcleaner.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a vacuum cleanerhaving improved structural features.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear,the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements ofparts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawingsof a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the severalfeatures of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will beunderstood by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings:

' Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a vacuum cleaner embodying theinvention, it being understood that the front face of the upstandingvacuum cleaner handle is provided with an expanded metal grille similarto the three small areas indicated thereon,

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective View of the vacuum cleaner shown in Fig. 1,it being understood that the hinged door is provided with a completepanel of expanded metal.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of portions of the vacuum cleaner shown inFigs. 1 and 2, the covers shown in Figs. 4 and 5 having been removed.

Fig. 4 is an upside down view of a cover for a portion of the opencleaner shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an upside down view of a second cover for another portion ofthe open cleaner shown in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the vacuum cleaner handle takensubstantially on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the invention is disclosedas embodied in a vacuum cleaner having a lower casing shell l6, an uppercasing shell or cover I1, a lower motor housing I8, an upper motorhousing or cover I9, and a propelling handle, indicated generally by thenumeral 2|, the handle having a hand grip portion 22 at its free end. Asbest seen in Figs.

1 and 2, the upper casing shell or cover I! is complemental to andcovers the lower casing shell [6, and the upper motor housing or coverI9 is complemental to and covers the lower motor housing IS.

The lower casing shell l6, has a pair of rear support wheels 26, and asbest seen in Fig. 3 is in the form of a U-shaped box, which has aforwardly positioned upwardly open nozzle cavity 23, and a pair ofupwardlyopen air duct cavities 24a and 24b. The nozzle cavity 23 has anopen bottom portion 25, which forms a suction mouth 26, the latter beingdivided into three separate openings by a pair of rug hold-down bars21-21. The air duct cavities 24a and 24?) extend rearwardly from thenozzle cavity 23. Inner walls 28a and 28b of the air duct cavities240-241) are provided respectively with semi-circular openings 29a and297). Outer Walls 3Ia and 3lb of the air duct cavities each have aninfacing boss 32, upon which are pivotally mounted the ends of brushsupport arms 33a and 33b. The free ends of the arms 33a and 33brotatably support a dust brush 34, which may be of well knownconstruction. The lowermost part of the duct cavities 24a and 24b areclosed respectively by bottom walls 35a and 35b and the nozzle cavity 23is bounded by a forward wall 36 and a rear wall 31. A resilient bumper38 extends along the outer face of the walls 23, 3la and 31b.

The lower motor housing l8, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, is in theform of a semi-cylindrical box and has an outer semi-cylindrical wall44. The semi-cylindrical box is divided into a plurality of cavities 39,40, 4|, 42 and 43 by vertical walls 46, 41, 48 and 49. The cavities 39and 43, located adjacent the sides of the housing l8, are substantiallysemi-cylindrical in form and each cavity 39 and 43 forms the lower halfof a casing for fans 50a and 50b. The cavity 40, which is separated fromthe fan cavity 39 by the wall 46, houses the lower half of a ballbearing 5| a that rotatably supports a horizontally extending motorshaft 52. The ball bearing 5la is covered by a screw held cap 53a. Thewall 41, between the cavity 46 and the cavity 4|, is cut away toaccommodate the lower half of a motor ventilating fan 54 carried on theshaft 52. The cavity 4! houses field coils 56 and an armature 51 of thevacuum cleaner motor. The means for mounting the field coils etc. formsthe basis of a patent application Serial No. 75,552, filed February 10,1949, now Patent No. 2,613,242, dated October 7, 1952, and will notherein be described. The cavity 42, which is bounded by the walls 48 and49,

3 houses a pair of carbon brushes 5858 and a ball bearing 5Ib which ismounted in a manner similar to the ball bearing 5Ia previouslydescribed.

The wall 59a, which forms the outer boundary of the fan chamber 39, isapertured by a semicylindrical hole 6Ia, which accommodates the smallerdiameter portion of a flanged ring 62a. The flange of the ring 62aenters a semi-annular recess 63a formed in the face of thesemi-cylindrical opening 29a of the shell I6. In like manner the wall59b for the chamber 43 has a semicylindrical hole 6Ib for the smallerportion of the ring 82b. Also the flange of ring 82b enters asemi-annular recess 63b in the face of the opening 2%. The two rings 62aand 621), when clampfid I in place by the cover I1 and the cover I9,presently more fully to be described, function as pivots for the motormembers I8 and I9 and for the pivotally mounted handle 2I.

The motor shaft 52, in addition to carrying the armature 51 and theventilating fan 54, carries the fans 58a and 5% at its opposite ends.The hub of the an 50b is extended and forms a pulley for driving a belt68 which drives the dust brush .34.

The lower motor housing I8 has an extension 64 formed integraltherewith. This extension 84 is positionedtangentially with respect tothe motor housing I8 and a lower portion of the extension is aperturedby a pair of converging ducts 99a and 66b, the forward ends ofduct'fific being connected with and extending rearwardly from the iancavity 39, whereas the forward end of duct 56?) is connected with andextends rearwardly from the cavity 43. The upper portion of theextension 84 provides a shelf on which is rotatably mounted an electriccord take-up reel 61 rotating on an axle 18 that is perpendicular to aplane containing the motor axle 52.

The lower casing shell I6 is closed by the complemental casing cover I1,and this cover, which is best seen in Fig. 4, is in the form of aU-shaped box. The cover I"! has at its forward end a nozzle coveringcavity I23 and a pair of rearwardly extending duct covering cavities124a and 1241). The cavity I23 is complemental to the cavity 23, and thecavities I24a and I24b are respectively complemental to the cavities 24aand 24b. The cavity I23 is covered with a top wall I25. The cover Ilalsohas a plurality of walls I28a, I281), I3Ia. I3Ib, I35a, I351), I36 andI31, that are comel men respectiv ly to wel 8a 2. 31a, 3 35a, 35b, 36and 31 of the shell IS. The walls I28a and I28?) are each provided witha semicylindrical opening, designated as I29a and I29b, hiQll re eememen al to he ng n 29b of the walls 28a and 28b.

The lo e mot hous memb r I8 is c se by the complemental casing cover I9.The cover I9, which is best seen in Fig. 5 has a plurality of cavitiesand walls which are complemental to similar parts formed in the motorhousing I8. For example, the cavities I39, I48 I4I, I42 and I43 in thecover I9 are complemental to cavities 39, 48, 4|, 42 and 43 in the motorhousing I8. Also the walls I44, I46, I41, I48 and I49 of the motor coverI9 join walls 44, 46, 41,48 and 49, respectively, of the motor housingmember I8. Also the end walls I59a and I59? of the cover I9 join endwalls 59a and 591) on diametral lines. each of the Walls I59a and I59bbeing provided respectively with a semi-cylindrical recess IGIa-IBIbthat are complemental to the recesses Bla and 115. E ch eces i2 and. 29the cover is provided respectively with a semi-annular recess I830; andI631) for accommodating the flange portion of the rings 82a and 62b, andthe recesses I6Ia and Hill) of the cover I9 engage the small collar ofthe rings 52a and 92b. The motor cover I9 also has an extension coverI64 that is ccmplemental to the extension 64. The motor cover I9 is heldto the lower motor housing member IS by means of a plurality of screwsI18 that pass through appropriate holes I1I in the cover I9 and arethreaded into holes I12 in the motor housing member I8.

The casing cover I1 is held to the shell I6 by a strap spring I13. Thisspring is pivotally supported from a-pair of upstanding arms I14-I14which int-urn are supported from a pair of horizontally disposed lugsI19I18 formed integral with the lower shell I6. The free end of thespring I13 is provided with a hole I11. When the cover I1 is in place ontop of the shell It, the arms I14I1 4 extend through an opening I18formed in the upper wall I25 and the spring I13 is flexed down over thetop of the cover I1 to which it is securely held by a screw I19.

The box-like handle 2|, which along with the motor housing members I8and I9 is mounted to pivot on the flanged rings 62a and 62b, is rec?tangular in cross section. The size of this rectangular cross section islarge near the motor housings I8 and i9, and gradually decreases in sizeas the hand grip 22 is approached. This handle 2| (Figs. 2 and 6 isconstructed from a pair of converging side angle-plates I8Ia and I8Ib,the lower ends of which are held to the extension 84, of the motorhousing I8, by a plurality of screws I82. The upper end of the platesI8Ia and I8Ib are held to the hand grip 22 by screws I83. A channel orU-shaped cover I84 is held to the extension 84 by a bracket I85 andscrews I88. Removal of the cover I84 exposes to view the cord reel 61,hereinbefore described. The major portion of the face of the handle 2Iis covered with an open grille work I81, which as illustrated is made ofa sheet of expanded metal formed into a U-shaped grille. The back of thehandle 2 I, is closed by a door I88 having a single grille panel I89made from expanded metal. This door is hinged to the angle plate Hill),as at I9I and is provided with a latch I92 of known construction.

The two exhaust ducts 66a and 68b converge into a single duct I93 whichextends upwardly into the handle 2!. The open end of this duct isprovided with a means (not shown) whereby a dust bag I94 is attached tothe end of the duct I93, it being understood that access to the open endof the duct I93 and to the dust bag I94 is had through the openingprovided by the door I88. The grilles I81 and I89 provide sufficientventilation so that filtered air can escape from the bag I94 to theatmosphere.

An electric cord I98 is wound around the reel 61' and the end of thiscord extends upwardly through the handle 2I to an outlet I91 found inthe hand grip 22. The uppermost end of the cord I96 is fitted with anelectric plug I98.

The hand-grip 22 is also provided with an elec-. tric switch I99 bywhich the motor of the vacuum cleaner can be started or stopped. Thehandgrip 22 also has a button 280, which, by means of a rod and latch(not shown) provides a means for latching the handle 2| in a pluralityof selected positions.

The vacuum cleaner of the present invention can e a sem led n t e fo insimplifi d man- :r. First, the various motor and fan elements, cludingthe field coil 56, the armature 51, 'ushes Sit-58, bearings Sic-51b, andfans lei-50b are assembled in the lower motor houslg 18. This can veryeasily be done because and the flanges of these rings are placed intothe semi-circular recesses Sta--53?) formed in the lower casing shellit. Then the dust brush 34, by means of arms Silo-43b, is supported fromthe bosses 92-62, at the same time making cer-' tain that the belt Gilis properly installed. Thereafter the cover shell i1 is placed over theshell it in such a manner that the flanges of the rings 5211-42227 enterthe recesses i63a-lii3b of the openings l2d-l23'b. Then the hingedspring 113 is bent down over the top surface of the shell cover I! andheld thereto by the screw I19.

The dust bag 1% is very easily attached to the single duct 193 byopening the door 188. After the bag [9% is in place the door 183 isclosed and secured by the latch I92.

While the wires connecting the motor kit-5L- 58 to the reel 61 are notshown, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that there is noneed for flexible cord connections between the motor 56-5"i-58 and thereel 61. the fact that the motor and the reel are both mounted on theintegral parts 18-54. Furthermore, the method of mounting the reel 61with respect to the motor 56-51-459 permits of the best utilization ofspace. The greatest dimension of the motor is the longitudinal length ofthe shaft 52, and the greatest dimension of the reel 61 is itsdiametrical dimension. It will be noted that both of these aretransverse of the cleaner and the handle.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what we claim hereinis:

1. A vacuum cleaner casing construction comprising, a lower casing shellhaving a forwardly positioned nozzle cavity and a pair of rearwardly 0ceiving blown by Said fans, a dust bag carried extending air ductcavities open to said nozzle cavity, an upper casing shell having anozzle cavity and a pair of rearwardly extending air duct cavitiescomplemental to cavities in said lower casing shell, means for holdingsaid upper 55 shell to said lower shell, a pair of flanged rings clampedbetween said two shells at locations rearward of such nozzle cavitiesand adjacent the rear ends of said air duct cavities, a lower motorhousing having a pair of rearwardly extending 60 converging ducts, anupper motor housing separable from and complemental to said lower motorhousing, means for pivoting said motor housings on said flanged rings,and a handle secured to said motor housings. 1 M

2. A vacuum cleaner casing construction com- ,prising'a lower casingshell having a forwardly positioned nozzle cavity and a pair ofrearwardly extending air duct cavities open to said nozzle cavity, anupper casing shell having a nozzle cavity and a pair of rearwardlyextending air duct cavities complemental to cavities in said lowercasing shell, means for holding said upper shell to said lower shell, apair of flanged rings clamped between said two shells atlocationsrearranged to slidingly engage said flanged rings 10 thereby allowingsaid motor to rotate relative to 20 ing said motor with respect to saidambulatory mum dimension extending in a direction parallel and grillework forming part of said handle and This results from cavities open tosaid nozzle cavity, an upper shell, a motor-handle unit pivotallymounted its axis normal to a plane containing the axis ward of suchnozzle cavities and adjacent the rear ends of said air duct cavities, alower motor housing having a pair of rearwardly extending convergingducts, an upper motor housing complemental to said lower motor housing,a pair of complemental semi-cylindrical holes in opposite sides of saidupper and lower motor housings, thev motor housing walls defining saidholes being arsaid upper and lower casing shells, a handle secured tosaid motor housings, a cord take-up reel carried by said handle, and anelectric cord extending from said reel to the end of said handle.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, a two-part ambulatory casing arranged to bemoved over a floor being cleaned, means for holding said two-part casingtogether, an electric motor having a horizontally positioned shaft,means for pivotally mountoasing, a pair of fans located on opposite endsof said motor shaft, a box-shaped handle rigidly secured to said motor,a cord reel carried within said box-shaped handle and having its maxitothe motor shaft, a pair of convergent exhaust ducts extendinglongitudinally of said handle and receiving air blown from said fans, adust bag connected to said ducts and housed in said handle,

allowing filtered air to escape from said bag.

4. A vacuum cleaner comprising a lower casing shell having a forwardlypositioned nozzle cavity and a pair of rearwardly extending air ductcasing shell having a nozzle cavity and a pair of rearwardly extendingair duct cavities complemental to cavities of said lower casing shell,means for holding said upper shell to said lower with respect to saidcasing shells, the axis of said motor extending transversally withrespect to the longitudinal dimension of said handle, a cord reelcarried by said handle, said reel having of said motor, a pair of fansdriven by said motor, a box-shaped member forming the outer shell ofsaid handle, a pair of convergent exhaust ducts extending longitudinallyof said handle and re- EDGAR P. TURNER. CHARLES J. STOCKBURGER.

REFERENCES orrcn ,11,

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 149,528 Turner et al May 4,1948 D. 152,182 Barnhart Dec. 28, 1948 Re. 20,489 Leathers Aug. 31, 193?1,205,412 Tideman Nov. 21, 1916 1,897,087 Tamarin Feb. 14, 19331,954,416 Leathers Apr. 10, 1934 2,140,143 Sellers Dec. 13, 19382,253,997 Becker Aug. 26, 1941 2,342,912 White Feb. 29, 1944

